WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THE IGNITION ON MY STATUS NOT TO WORK?

2002 Dodge Stratus • 198,000 miles

I recently purchased a 2002 Dodge Stratus as a second car for my sons. This is a car with high mileage, but the motor and transmission sound good. The car has a 2.4 liter DOHC motor. While cleaning the car up and fixing a few minor things, I was tightening up the fender liner inside the driver’s side front fender. I was replacing the plastic buttons that hold the liner in. I had purchased some new ones and found out they were a little big for the existing holes. Rather than running back to the parts store, I decided I would just drill them out a little bigger.

While drilling the holes my drill took off on me when it popped through the liner and metal firewall above the hole. What I did not realize at the time was that the drill bit had been pulled up through the sheet metal and into the fuse panel underneath the hood.

A little while later when I tried to start the car it would not start. When I turn the key in the ignition, I get nothing. No sound at all, no clicking of the solenoid, the starter doesn’t engage, and the motor doesn’t turn over.

After discovering that I had drilled through the bottom of the fuse box, I took the box apart and discovered that my drill bit had nicked a pink wire with a yellow stripe on it. The wire is one of four wires that go to a relay that is labeled ASD Relay. We have tested that wire by using a meter and poking a lead into the wire below the damaged part of the wire and inserting the other probe into the slot in the box above the wire, and we had continuity. So, we believe the wire that was nicked is still conducting, but we suspect that I shorted something (fuse, etc.) When my drill bit was in contact with the metal of the fender and the wire.

A few more details: headlights, electric windows, dome lights, fan motor, radio, wipers and fluid pump all still work. I get nothing at all when turning the key in the ignition. Not a sound. My thought is that I shorted something in the ignition system. I have checked the fuses and relays in the fuse box under the hood and inside the car. They all seem to be good.

Is there something else (a fuse link or something) somewhere else on the moter that I am missing? Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.